Tua Tagovailoa was named the Atlanta Falcons’ Week 1 starting quarterback, but an oblique injury sustained in practice has officially sidelined him. NFL insider Jordan Schultz dropped the news that Tagovailoa is out for the season opener against the Pittsburgh Steelers. This sudden development means Cooper Rush is now thrust into the starting role, with Michael Penix Jr. still recovering and unavailable. It’s a gut punch for the Falcons, who now face the Steelers without their top two quarterbacks.
The Quarterback Room Is a Total Mess
What a chaotic start to the season for the Falcons, huh? They likely had Michael Penix Jr. tabbed as their Week 1 starter, but his recovery just wasn’t far enough along to get him on the field. So, Tua Tagovailoa gets the nod, right? Great, problem solved. Except it wasn’t. Tua goes down with an oblique injury during practice, making him questionable for the Steelers game. Then, the hammer drops. Jordan Schultz confirms Tagovailoa’s discomfort is enough to keep him off the field. Schultz specifically reported, “Falcons QB Tua Tagovailoa, who suffered an oblique injury, is experiencing enough discomfort that he will miss Sunday’s game vs. the Steelers. Cooper Rush will start. Michael Penix Jr. is getting closer, but he’s not there yet.” So, yeah, the Falcons are now officially rolling into Week 1 without their QB1 *and* their QB2. You absolutely cannot make this stuff up.
Rush Hour for the Falcons, and It’s Not Looking Smooth
This Week 1 injury is a massive blow for Tua, and it instantly puts his long-term prospects with the Falcons into question. The talk is already swirling that Atlanta might decide to cut ties with the former Miami Dolphins quarterback once Penix is fully recovered. It’s wild to think this decision could come before Tagovailoa even gets a single regular season snap with the team. Now, it’s Cooper Rush’s show. He did play well a few years ago, stepping in for Dak Prescott, showing he can handle some pressure. But his preseason this year? Man, it left a lot to be desired. On 48 pass attempts, he completed just 30 passes for 254 yards, with one touchdown and two interceptions. That 62.5% completion rate, paired with two picks, just isn’t what you want from your emergency starter, especially when your top two guys are out.
Making things even more interesting, Jack Strand is now the backup to Rush. There’s some legitimate hype building around Strand after his own preseason run: 24 for 36, 306 yards, one touchdown, and just one interception, good for a 66.7% completion rate. Obviously, he won’t be starting unless Rush gets hurt, but if these injuries to Penix and Tagovailoa linger, which is a real possibility, Strand could absolutely see some early playing time this year. For now, Kevin Stefanski and the Falcons are handing the keys to Rush for Week 1, and he’s going up against a notoriously tough Steelers defense. It’s a brutal way to kick off the season, with both the Falcons’ QB1 and QB2 missing the very first game. The team needs Rush to defy his preseason struggles if they want to avoid starting the season 0-1.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by The Sporting News.
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